The hugely unpopular plans to carry out sweeping cuts to Suffolk’s Fire Service will be opposed by the Liberal Democrat and Labour Groups with a joint motion on the 17th March.

In the wake of the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) consultation, which ended at 5pm today, two of Suffolk County Council’s opposition Groups have put party politics aside in order to reverse the planned cuts.

Liberal Democrat Leader and former Firefighter, David Wood, said “9 out of 10 people that participated in the consultation process oppose these changes. People were crowding out venues, attending in their hundreds, to voice their disagreement and alarm at the planned cuts. Given the high level of public concern expressed against these proposals, it is only right that petty differences be put aside so that we can truly represent the will of Suffolk’s residents.”

Labour Group Leader, Sandy Martin, who will be seconding the joint-motion added, “We want to make sure that this is a non-Party Political motion that truly reflects the real concerns of the people of Suffolk. For this reason, we have put in a joint-motion with the Liberal Democrats.”

Cllr Martin concluded, “The level of public opposition to these proposals is extraordinary and impossible to ignore. If the Conservative administration ignore this and plough on regardless, they show themselves to not only be politically illiterate, but morally bankrupt.”